Suppleness

[horses4eva888]

Hi, If you've read my other thread about canter critique then you will know I have issues with hip suppleness etc which results in a bouncy canter position. Does anyone know any exercises to do on a daily basis to improve suppleness in particular hip suppleness but any tips are helpful.

[horses4eva888]

*bump*

[jUmPingIsLifE]

try taking your feet out of the stirrups and at teh walk or trot (whichever you are comfortable) take your legs and lift them bring them foward and back. Do one leg at a time, its like you are riding a bike and peddling.

another is to do 'sissors' with your legs, putting one leg foward and the other back as far as you can.

[horses4eva888]

Thanks, have you got any for on the ground as I don't have my own horse and would just like to improve my hip suppleness for lessons

[nutkin]

a couple of excercises that are great for riders are swimming and dance.One thing which could help you to open your hips is to stand on one leg and bring the other one up and out to the side like a ballet dancer.Do this on both sides and it should really start to open the hip joint.You could also bring the leg up and out to the side before placing it back in the stirrup while mounted.It will make you feel like you are riding shorter once you take the stirrup back and that is because you have opened the hip joint.

[horses4eva888]

They are good especially as I do ballet anyway lol! Do you mean like unfolding it?

[piftisha]

If you already do ballet, then make sure you do them, for riding anyway, technically the wrong way, because in ballet you're not supposed to let your hip open or come up, and for riding you would.

Glad I'm not the only one who has done ballet and rides...although my lower back is so flexible its been a bit of a hurdle for riding!

:)

I'm going to try all of these exercises too!

[horses4eva888]

YAY!!! Another ballerina rider! I The main problem I've had combining the two is heels down keep forgetting and I slip into pointing my toes!:p especially on jumping but it's cause I grip with my knees too :o It has help me be flexible getting on the horse though:D

[Hallmarked]

Off horse hip stretches

1. Stand feet together, lift your left foot up towards your bottom, keeping your back straight and hips level throughout. You can hold onto a chair or rail to keep your balance if necessary. Grab your left ankle with your left hand and pull up, keeping straight and level. You should feel the stretch in the front of your left hip joint and front of thigh. Hold for 8 - 10 seconds, repeat on other leg.

2. Sit on floor with legs straight out in front of you. Slide sole of left foot up side of right leg so knee is pointing out sideways along the ground. Stop when sole of foot is about level with right knee. Slide your hands down your right leg as far as you can without straining. You should feel the stretch down the back of your right leg. Repeat on other leg.

3. Sit on a firm chair, make sure it is a comfortable height e.g. you can rest your feet on the floor. Back straight, legs together, Lift left leg and place your left ankle on top of your right thigh close to the knee, hold it in place with your hand. Push you left knee downwards towards the ground, you can use your left hand to help you but do not overdo it. You should feel the stretch on the inside of your left thigh. Hold the stretch 8 -10 seconds and again repeat on other side.

4. Kneel on floor. Move right leg forward so you are on one knee (left) with right thigh horizontal, shin vertical, like two sides of a square. Lean forward and rest both hands on floor level with right ankle. Slide left leg back, on your toes (hope that makes sence) so you are in "starters orders" position. Left left knee off the floor about 1"/5cm (higher and it's cheating) and hold position as long as you can. Obviously repeat other side.

I hope I've explained them so you can follow them:) . A useful guide is a book called "Riding From the Inside Out" by Lisa Champion. It is stuffed full of off-horse excercises for riders to sort out various positional problems, including most of the above but with pictures. There is a link to the website on the recentish "pilates for riders" thread